Those unions are getting nowhere now.
Alitalia takeover "in jeopardy", Air France-KLM boss says
4 hours ago
ROME (AFP) — A plan by Air France-KLM to take over failing Alitalia is "in jeopardy" after the breakdown of talks with the Italian carrier's unions, the European giant's chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta said Wednesday.
"It's true the agreement is in jeopardy," Spinetta told the Italian news agency ANSA, adding, however: "I'm still confident."
The Air France-KLM boss was to meet early Wednesday with Alitalia leaders to discuss renewing contact with the unions, whose green light is necessary for the deal to go forward.
Talks on Tuesday with the nine unions were tense and ended in disagreement.
The main unions issued a joint statement saying they had a "very critical judgement" of the talks and argued that the negotiating timetable was unrealistic -- Air France-KLM wants an agreement by the end of March.
While the European giant says it plans to cut 1,600 jobs from the 11,000-strong work force, the unions fear job losses of up to 7,000.
Spinetta reportedly warned on Tuesday that his company could walk away from the deal, accepted Monday by the Italian government.
"We are certainly not obliged to acquire Alitalia," Spinetta said, according to a labour leader who was present at the talks.
Italy's outgoing centre-left government on Monday approved the acquisition of the state's 49.9 percent stake through a share swap of one Air France-KLM share for every 160 Alitalia shares.
That values the Italian airline at 140 million euros (218 million dollars).
Tuesday's talks at Alitalia headquarters began shortly after protesters outside the building clashed with police, leaving one demonstrator slightly injured..
Some 350 demonstrators took part in the protest including employees of AZ Servizi, the maintenance unit that would be shut down under the takeover deal.
A second demonstration was staged at Rome's Fiumicino airport.